jat1 cam4 baak3 caai2一沉百踩
Jyutpingjat1 cam4 baak3 caai2
Yaleyāt chàhm baak cháai
Definition
To kick someone when they are down; once someone falls from power, everyone joins in to criticize, mock, or exploit them.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This idiom captures the cynical social dynamic where people distance themselves from or attack someone who has recently suffered a setback or lost status. It is often used to criticize the lack of loyalty or the opportunistic nature of fair-weather friends. The imagery of being trampled by a hundred people emphasizes the overwhelming and collective nature of the hostility.
Examples
He has lost his power now, and people are just piling on.
Don't be so mean, always kicking people when they are down.
Related words
Common phrases
afraid of being kicked when down
hate the act of piling on when someone is down
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe physical falling or literal accidents. It is strictly reserved for social, professional, or reputational decline.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
